Envelope feeding mechanism



Dec. 23, 1941. c. L. POST vENVELOPE FEEDING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled July 13, 1959 '/ZUQZZ" (Zcza Dec. 23, A1941.

` c, L. POST BNVELOPE FEEDNG MEcHANIsM Filed Juiy 15, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 @Zay RU@ Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 7 Claims.

The invention relates to feeding mechanism, and particularly to a devicefor use in feeding envelopes having a window or the'like therein.

Heretofore considerable difficulty has been experienced in feedingenvelopes to printing machines, for example, where the envelopes havebeen provided with an opening or window in the same, which rendered itdifficult to feed envelopes from a stack as the vflap of the envelope onthe bottom of the stack would catch in the window of the envelopedirectly ahead of it as the latter envelope was drawn from the bottom ofthe stack into the machine. This causes either one or both of theenvelopes to be torn and jams the feeding mechanism.

The present invention, therefore, has as one of its objects theproduction of a feeding mechanism having suitable means associatedtherewith for preventingthe envelopes from engaging and tearing oneanother during feeding, and jamming up the feeding mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the construction of such a feedingmechanism which lifts the stack of envelopes above the precedingenvelope as the latter passes into the machine.

Another object of the invention is the construction of such a mechanismwhich may be attached to the machine for use with envelopes having awindow therein and may be removed if desired when not in use.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a device whichmay be attached to substantially any type of such a machine with aminimum o-f time and labor.

Another object of the invention is the construction of such a devicewhich may be readily adjusted for envelopes of various sizes andAshapes.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangementand combination of` parts herein shown and described and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrativepurposes in the accompanying drawings in Which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a machine of the typedescribed with my improved feeding device applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the portion of the machine shown inFig. 1 with` the bottom envelope about to enter theV feeding mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the envelope entering the feedingmechanism, showing the envelope directly above the same raised out ofcontact therewith;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an envelope of the type adapted to beused with the present invention.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, the p-resent invention is shown inrelation to a fragment of a printing press of the character shown andfully described in Patent No. 1,758,536, issued to me May 13, 1930, andhaving a feed table indicated as a whole by the numeral 8 associatedtherewith and a magazine I I adapted to contain a plurality ofsuperimposed envelopes E to be fed to the table 8 and thence to aprinting machine or the like.

Positioned below the magazine II is a feeding mechanism indicated as awhole by the numeral I2, the specific details and operations of whichare fully described in Patent No. 1,730,477, issued to me October 3,1929.

Briefly, the mechanism I2 includes a rotatable linger I3 adapted toengage the flap F of the lowermostl envelope E positioned in themagazine II in a manner to unfold the flap thereof and move it outwardlyinto substantial alignment with the body of the envelope between upperfeed rollers I 4 mounted on the shaft I5 and lower. feed segments IB andI1 mounted on the shaft I8 by which the flap F is engaged in a manner tofeed the envelope from the magazine II onto the feed table 8, saidrollers I4, segments I6 and I1 and the nger I3 being operated in aproper synchronism by means of gearing I9 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and adrive chain 2I as clearly described in said Patent No. 1,730,477.

As shown in Figs, 2 and 3, the envelopes E` are stacked in the magaznieI.I with the faces of the envelopes upward. The finger I3 engages theflap F of the bottom envelope and rotates it downward into the positionshown in Fig. 2, where-the segments I6 and Il draw it up into engagementwith the rollers I4, after which it enters the machine, as shown in Fig.3. The usual envelopes readily enter the machine with no difcultywhatsoever. However, when the envelope is provided with a window oropening therein through which an address or the like on the contents ofthe envelope are visible for mailing purposes, a new diniculty arises.-As shown, the envelopes are stacked face up` sothat the ilap of the topenvelope is resting on the face of the one-below. When the latterenvelope is drawn from the bottom of the stack, the opening or window 46passes adjacent the flap F of the envelope immediately above. As theflaps have a tendency to open slightly the flap of the envelope on thebottom of the stack sometimes catches in the window of the envelopebeing drawn from the stack. This results in one or both of the envelopesbeing torn and the machine jammed, necessitating the stopping thereof toremove the obstruction created thereby. This difficulty arises with bothenvelopes merely having openings and those having transparent windows ofCellophane or the like. In the latter case, the thickness of the paperin the envelope at the window is suflicient to engage the flap of theenvelope above. With the present invention, the envelopes in the stackare preferably raised out of contact with the envelope entering themechanism, thus entirely eliminating any possibility of the flap of oneenvelope catching in the window of another. It will be noted that theenvelopes are moved out of position during feeding as contrasted withprior devices wherein means are inserted between envelopes to preventengagementl of the flap and window.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, an arm 22 is carried ona shaft 23 and is locked thereon by a set screw 24 or other suitablemeans. The free end of the arm is provided with a slot 25 in which iscarried a paddle 26. A set screw 21 securely holds the paddle in placeand may be readily loosened for adjustment of the paddle to accommodateenvelopes of various sizes. The shaft 23 is journaled in a pair ofblocks 28 which are mounted on the table 3|, the latter` forming thebottom of the magazine The blocks 28 may be permanently mounted on thetable 3| or if desired, may be removably secured thereto, as shown inthe drawings, by means of wing screws 32 which clamp the blocks to thetable, the blocks in this case being slotted, as shown at 33, to receivesaid table. The arm 22 and paddle 26 are of a size to position thepaddle under the stack of envelopes so that the partial rotation of theshaft will raise the arm 22 and stack of envelopes from the bottom ofthe magazine The shaft 23 is operatively connected with the feedingmechanism so that the arm 22 and paddle 26 will be raised in synchronismwith the feeding mechanism as will hereinafter be described. In thepresent form of the invention, shown in the drawings, particularly Fig.1, the end of the shaft 23 is provided with an arm 36 rigidly securedthereto by a set screw 31 or other suitable means. Slidably connected tothe opposite end of the arm 36 is a slotted connecting member 38, thescrew 39 passing through the slot 4| of the member and into the arm 36with the member being free to slide on the screw 39. The opposite end ofthe member 38 is pivotally secured by means of a screw 42 to acylindrical cap 43. As shown in Fig. 4, the cap 43 is secured to the hub44 of the gear on the shaft |8 by means of a set screw 45. Obviously,the cap 43 could be formed as an integral part of the gear if desired,the construction shown, however, readily adapting itself for use on oldmachines which would not be provided with the cap. It might be mentionedthat while the shaft 23 is driven through the arm 36, the member 38 andcap 43 from the shaft I8, obviously it might be driven from any suitablepower shaft of the machine.

The operation of the device is as follows:

As previously mentioned, the nger |3 engages the flap F of the enevlopeat the bottom of the stack, moving it into the position shown in Fig. 2where it is picked up by the segments I6 and |1, which rotate it up tothe rollers I4, there being a plurality of them on the shaft I6, afterwhich the envelopes will be drawn into the machine, as shown in Fig. 3.As soon as the bottom envelope begins to move from under the stack, thearm 22 and paddle 26 will begin to rise, carrying with it the remainingenvelopes in the magazine. This continues until the stack has preferablybeen raised clear of the lower envelope which, having cleared the paddlerests on the bottom of the magazine, as shown in Fig. 3, therebyeliminating any possibility of the edge 46 of the envelope from engagingthe flap F of the envelope thereabove. As soon as the lower envelope hasleft the bottom of the magazine, the arm 22 and paddle 26 will drop tothe bottom of the magazine, whereupon the cycle will be repeated. Thearm and paddle drop to the bottom of the magazine solely by their ownweight and that of the stack of envelopes, there being no positivereturning action due to the sliding action of the screw 39 in the slot4|. The arm 22 and paddle 26 may be readily adjusted to raise the stackof envelopes to any desired height. This is accomplished merely byunscrewing the set screw 24 which locks the arm 22 to the shaft 23 androtating the arm relative the shaft to give the desired travel. Thesynchronism of the arm with the rest of the feeding mechanism may bereadily adjusted by rotating the cap 43 on the hub 44 of its respectivegear. This likewise is accomplished merely by unscrewing the set screw45 in the cap, rotating the cap to the desired position and then lockingthe set screw. Obviously, rotation of the cap will change the point inthe feeding cycle at which the member 38 will rotate the shaft 23 andthe arm 22.

It will be seen from the above description that I have provided aconstruction wherein jamming of the mechanism is eliminated, as well asinjury l to the article being fed. It will also be noted that I haveprovided a feeding device which may be readily installed or removed andwhich may be accurately aligned and synchronized with the remainder ofthe machine to obtain the best results.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same Without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a feeding device, the combination of a magazine for holding astack of window envelopes, mechanism for laterally feeding the bottomenvelope of the stack from said magazine, and means for raising the nextenvelope out of engagement with the window portion of the bottomenvelope as the latter is laterally drawn from the magazine by saidfeeding mechanism.

2. In a feeding device, the combination of a magazine for holding astack of envelopes, mechanism for feeding the bottom envelope of thestack from said magazine, an arm pivotally carried by said device withthe free end of the arm positioned in said magazine adjacent the bottomthereof, said envelopes resting on said arm, and

means for moving the free end of said arm upwardly to raise the nextenvelope out of feeding position as the bottom envelope is drawn fromthe magazine by said feeding mechanism.

3. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a magazine forholding a stack of Window envelopes, mechanism for feeding the bottomenvelope of the stack from said magazine, an envelope engaging membermovably carried by the device, and means operatively connecting saidmember with the mechanism whereby said member Will move the nextenvelope substantially out of contact with the Window portion of saidbottom envelope as the latter is drawn from said magazine.

4. In a feeding device, the combination of a magazine for holding astack of envelopes, mechanism for feeding the bottom envelope of thestack from said magazine, a shaft positioned outside said magazine, anarm rigidly carried at one end thereof by said shaft, thefree end ofsaid arm being positioned Within said magazine, a second armeccentrically connected at one end to said shaft, the opposite end ofsaid second arm being operatively connected to said feeding mechanism topartially rotate said shaft and raise the free end of said rst arm insynchronism With said feeding mechanism.

5. In a feeding device the combination of a magazine for holding a stackof envelopes, mechanism for feeding the bottom envelope of the stackfrom said magazine, a shaft positioned outside said magazine, an armrigidly carried at one end thereof by said shaft, the free end of saidarm being positioned Within said magazine, a second arm rigidlyconnected at one end to said shaft, and an actuating member slidablyconnected at one end to the free end 'of said second arm and theopposite end eccentrically connected to said feeding mechanism wherebysaid lastmentioned arm is oscillated to periodically raise the free endof said rst-mentioned arm in said magazine.

6. In a feeding device the combination of a magazine for holding a stackof envelopes, mechanism for feeding the bottom envelope of the stack`from said magazine, a shaft positioned outside said magazine, journalingmeans for said shaft removably carried by the device, an arm rigidlycarried at; one end thereof by said shaft, the free end of said armbeing positioned Within said magazine, a second arm rigidly 'connectedat one end to said shaft, and an actuating member slidably connected atone end to the free end of said second arm, a cap member removablysecured to a rotatable member of said feeding mechanism, the oppositeend of said actuating member being pivotally secured to said cap atk apoint spaced from the axis of rotation of the cap whereby saidlast-mentioned arm is oscillated to periodically raise the free end ofsaid first-mentioned arm in said magazine.

7. In a device for feeding envelopes, the combination of a magazine forholding a stack of substantially horizontally positioned windowenvelopes, mechanism for substantially horizontally feeding the bottomenvelope of the stack from said magazine, a member movably carried bythe device, said member being engageable With said envelopes, and meansoperatively connecting said member With the mechanism to raise the nextenvelope out of the path of the Window portion of the bottom envelope asthe latter is substantially horizontally drawn from said magazine.

CLAUDE L. Posfr.

